Tengger Caldera

Java

SUMMARY:

Type: caldera
Activity: active
Last Eruption: 2001 AD
Rock Type: ?
Eruptive Volume: ? cu km
Location Map from Xerox PARC
Latitude: 7.94 S
Longitude: 112.95 E

GEOLOGIC HISTORY

 

The 16-km-wide Tengger caldera is located at the northern end of a volcanic massif extending from Semeru volcano. The massive Tengger volcanic complex dates back to the early Pleistocene and consists of five overlapping stratovolcanoes, each truncated by a caldera. Lava domes, pyroclastic cones, and a maar occupy the flanks of the massif. The most recent of the Tengger calderas is the 9 x 10 km wide Sandsea caldera, which formed incrementally during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. An overlapping cluster of post-caldera cones was constructed on the floor of the Sandsea caldera within the past several thousand years. The youngest of these is Bromo, one of Java's most active and most frequently visited volcanoes. The other inactive cones in the caldera are Widodaren-Watangan, Kursi, Giri, and Batok.

Historic Activity:

  • Bromo is a centrally located cone, with a 700-m-diameter crater; it has had 50 known eruptions since 1804.

Recent Activity:

  • Since 1980 normal activity has been weak white fumes rising 30 to 60 m above the summit.
  • An ash eruption from the active vent on the north side of Bromo crater on March 3, 1995 produced a dark gray plume that rose 100-200 m above the crater rim. Another ash eruption from Bromo crater on Sept. 9, 1995 sent a plume 700 m above rim.
  • Explosions from the Bromo crater in late 2000 and continued into early 2001.

Data Sources

  • Smithsonian's SEAN Bulletin (V. 5, No. 6 to V. 14, No. 7)
  • Global Volcanism Network (V. 20, No. 3 to V. 26, No. 1).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Last Update: 1/2/02